History

At Abingdon Primary School, we aim to deliver a high-quality history curriculum that is accessible to all and maximises the outcomes for every child. We want our children to become curious about the past, to ask perceptive questions and to develop the ability to think critically about history. We believe that studying history allows our children to see how and why our community, our country and the world have changed over time and that what children learn through history, can influence their values and attitudes. It supports children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people.

We offer a broad and balanced curriculum that enables children to develop a knowledge of both British history, including that of our local area, and the history of the wider world. It supports the progressive development of historical concepts, knowledge, and skills. Children are supported to develop a secure sense of chronology, beginning with changes in their own lifetime and those that happen within living memory and extending into the time beyond living memory. We believe that children need to see themselves represented in the curriculum and plan for children to learn about a diverse range of significant individuals in the past as well as the work of different historians

History is taught on a two-year cycle as part of a termly or half-termly topic, focussing on substantive and disciplinary knowledge as stated in the National Curriculum. Our curriculum is built around a series of enquiry questions and is planned to ensure children show progression, not just in historical knowledge but in their understanding of how we know about the past. Where possible topics are covered chronologically especially at Key Stage 2. However this is not always possible owing to the nature of our classes. When topics are taught out of chronological order, we support children to understand where their learning fits through the use of a whole school "big picture" timeline. 

By the time children leave Abingdon, we aim for them to be equipped with the historical skills and knowledge that will provide a strong foundation for their future learning not just at KS3 but as they journey into adulthood.

We aim for children to develop: 

• A secure knowledge and understanding of people, events and contexts from the historical periods covered.
• A good understanding of the big picture of history and how the different periods fit into the wider chronology.
• The ability to support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using detailed, appropriate and accurate historical evidence derived from a range of sources.
• The ability to think critically about history and communicate confidently in styles appropriate to a range of audiences.
• A passion for history and an enthusiastic engagement in learning, which develops their sense of curiosity about the past and their understanding of how and why people interpret the past in different ways.

Topics are covered as follows: 

EYFS: History is taught through "Understanding of the World" continous provision and focussed learning.  

KS1: Changes within living memory (the high street, holidays and schools) local area history (the Reddish mills), events beyond living memory (The Great Fire of London), significant individuals (Ibn Battuta, George Back, Matthew Henson, Felicity Aston, Sarah Forbes Bonetta) 

LKS2: The Stone Age, the Ancient Civilisations including an indepth study on Ancient Egypt, the Ancient Greeks, a local area study focussing on industrialisation and the development of the hat industry 

UKS2: The Anglo Saxons, the Vikings, the Maya, The Romans, World War 2 and the impact of the Suffragette movement. . 

Please click here for National Curriculum guidance

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